‘Uplifting, Empowering’ Leaders Saluted At Gracies

LOS ANGELES – The Alliance for Women in Media Foundation on Tuesday night saw a packed house of industry leaders in front and behind the camera and microphone gather to
support and elevate strong voices and inspiring storytelling.

Host Lauren Ash led the room in helping usher in the 2019 Gracie Award winners, whose stories spanned from uplifting and empowering narratives to stories that touched on important issues such as diversity, human trafficking and women’s reproductive rights.

This year’s attendees gathered at the Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire Hotel and included Sheryl Crow as performer, along with Good Girls co-stars Christina Hendricks and Retta; Schitt’s Creek’s Annie Murphy and Sarah Levy; and a host of other stars including Los Angeles TV veteran Jillian Barberie.

Among the more notable moments from the evening:

● Host Lauren Ash kicked off the evening celebrating the women who have been
speaking their truth by sharing their stories and highlighting the theme of bravery. “It’s
really important to celebrate our female friendships, because at the end of the day
they’re not mad if you’re making more money than they are.”
● Crow took to the stage performing a three-song medley, including her hit single, “If It Makes You Happy,” which she accompanied on piano. She joked with the room stating, “It’s so nice to be in a room with inspiring women. I’ve been engaged three times. I never got married but I had a rockin’ time not getting divorced!”
● Hendricks and Retta closed out the night by accepting the award for Best Ensemble Cast (TV). Both actresses gave an outstanding nod to show creator Jenna Bans. Hendricks stated, “Jenna writes not only extraordinary stories, but writes women in a way that are smart, and funny, and complicated, and messy, and interesting and…un-stereotyped and we’re just lucky enough to say her words.”
● Aisha Dee and Melora Hardin presented the award for Best Producer in Entertainment toMadam Secretary, on CBS.
● Loni Love jokingly brought attention to the anti-abortion law conversation saying, “If
men got pregnant abortions would be available at 7/11 and Foot Locker.”
● Leah Remini ensured that she was prepared to take the stage saying, “I have my
speech in my hand in case it was a man running the teleprompter.” She also took a
moment to recognize the success of the women in the room, saying “you are a woman, you are badass, you are talented and a master of the multitask… be unapologetically
you.”